5 Easy Tricks to Make a Wig Less Shiny?
Although most people all like shiny and smooth hair, sometimes human hair wigs and hair extensions are too shiny to look unnatural. Luckily, there are many ways to make a wig less shiny for a more authentic, natural look. Today we will explore 5 ways that can remove too much shine from wigs and hair extensions.
Tick One: Use Shampoo to Take the Shine out of Wigs
Shampooing is one of the most common and easiest ways to remove the shine from a wig. However, not all shampoos work for wigs. Therefore, you had better make sure you choose the right one that is specially designed for human hair wigs when using shampoo, which can protect your human hair wigs from damage.
Method 1: The Shampoo Soak Technique
1️⃣ Prep your workspace: I always start by lining my sink with a clean towel to prevent fiber snags. Use lukewarm water (not hot) to protect the hair cuticles.
2️⃣ Choose the right shampoo: Through trial and error, I've found sulfate-free formulas prevent dryness while effectively removing silicone-based factory coatings.
3️⃣ The soaking process: Submerge the wig completely for about 10-15 minutes, gently swishing it like fine lingerie - never rub!
4️⃣ Rinse & Dry: I use a gravity rinse (no squeezing!) by lifting the wig in and out 15-20 times. Air-dry on a ventilated stand.
Method 2: Dry Shampoo Application
Or you can use dry shampoo to make a wig look less shiny. After all, dry shampoo is an effective tool that can absorb excess dirt, sebum, and oils accumulated on the root of the wig. For shiny wigs and hair extensions, it can remove extra shine to create a more natural appearance.
Just shake and spray the dry shampoo directly on your wig, then brush it thoroughly, you can take out the shine from a wig. But there are some tips you need to follow when making a wig less shiny and more realistic with dry shampoo.
✅ Don't spray too close to the hair to avoid the product from not being evenly distributed to your wigs.
✅ Less is perfect. Keep in mind that too much dry shampoo can make hair dull.
✅ Only apply on completely dry hair, never on wet or damp hair.
✅ After applying the dry shampoo to the hair, please don't rub it in immediately, wait for a few minutes and let it dry on the hair.
Trick Two: Use Baby Powder to Make a Wig Less Shiny
Another easy, quick, and cost-effective way is to apply baby powder to your wig, a trick my grandmother taught me for taming her vintage wigs. Whether your wig is a human hair wig or a synthetic wig, similar to nose powder, baby powder can take off the shine from your wig, especially for light-colored wigs, such as blonde wigs, light brown wigs, and so on. Here’s my streamlined method:
How to Remove Excess Shine from Wig by Using Baby Powder?
1️⃣ Ensure Full Dryness: Lay the fully dry wig flat on a towel—damp fibers clump with powder.
2️⃣ Secure for Precision: Pin the wig to a foam head for stability.
3️⃣ Apply Strategically: Lightly dust powder onto the crown using an old makeup brush for precision.
4️⃣ Distribute Evenly: Comb through sections with a wide-tooth comb, focusing on the front 1/3 where shine is most noticeable.
5️⃣ Remove Residue: Shake gently upside down over a sink to remove excess.
Trick Three: Use Baking Soda to Get Rid of Wig Shine
And you can use baking soda to reduce the shine of your wig. We all know baking soda is a kind of salt, sodium bicarbonate. It is used to generally strip away oils, dirt, etc. More importantly, regardless of whether the wig is a human wig or synthetic wig, baking soda won't cause any damage to it.
How to Make a Wig Less Shiny by Using Baking Powder
1️⃣ Prepare Baking Soda Bath: Dissolve ½ cup of baking soda in a sink filled with cold water (hot water can distort synthetic fibers). Stir until no granules remain.
2️⃣ Soak Thoroughly: Submerge the wig completely, using a weight (like a clean bowl) to keep it underwater. Let it soak for 90 minutes to break down excess shine.
3️⃣ Rinse & Cleanse: Rinse under cool running water until clear, then wash with sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to maintain softness.
4️⃣ Dry Gently: Lay flat on a towel or wig stand to air-dry. Once fully dry, finger-fluff or use a wide comb—never brush wet fibers to avoid damage.
Trick Four: Apply Fabric Softeners
During my early days styling wigs, I noticed some beauty costume departments soaking synthetic furs in fabric softener. Adapting this, I discovered it’s ideal for lace-front wigs needing subtle sheen reduction without texture loss. That is because fabric softeners contain chemicals that can help remove the excess shine, just like dry shampoo.
How to Make a Synthetic Wig Less Shine with Fabric Softeners
To make synthetic wigs less shiny with fabric softener, you need to take the following simple steps:
1️⃣ Mix Solution: Fill a sink with cool water (avoid hot water to protect synthetic fibers), then stir in 2 tablespoons of unscented fabric softener until fully blended.
2️⃣ Soak Wig: Submerge the wig completely, gently swishing it through the mixture for even coverage. Let it rest flat for 10 minutes—no longer, or fibers may stiffen.
3️⃣ Rinse Gently: Hold the wig under a low-pressure showerhead, fingers combing through strands as water flows downward. This prevents tangling and preserves the weft structure.
Trick Five: Use Vinegar to Remove Shine from Wigs
Sometimes when I can’t find the right tools, I just pick up apple cider vinegar, it’s my go-to when synthetic fibers look plasticky or human hair wigs develop that “too perfect” glare. The mild acidity gently breaks down residue without stripping color.
How to Dull the Shine of Brown Wigs and Black Wigs Using Vinegar
1️⃣ Mix Smart: For my shoulder-length wigs, I use 1/4 cup vinegar swirled into a basin of cool water (about 2 liters). Too strong a ratio can dry out strands.
2️⃣ Swish, Don’t Soak: Dip the wig crown-first, gently agitating for 2-3 minutes—like rinsing lettuce leaves. Prolonged soaking isn’t necessary.
3️⃣ Rinse Ritual: Hold under the faucet until the water runs scent-free, then add a pea-sized drop of conditioner to the final rinse.
4️⃣ Dry with Care: I lay mine flat on a mesh drying rack (the kind for sweaters works perfectly) to avoid stretching the cap.
These methods are distilled from years of practical application, prioritizing safety and repeatability. Choose based on your wig type and time constraints—all achieve natural-looking results without drama.
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